It’s an image often used to highlight Maradona’s genius. “Look at those Belgians” people cry. “He has them under his spell.” The truth, however, is different. The picture was taken just as a free-kick had been wasted and the players are clustered in a group having been the defensive wall.

It kind of sums up Belgian football over the years. Underestimated and underrated. Picking from a population of 11 million, the nation reached the final of the 1980 European Championships and qualified for every World Cup between 1982 and 2002, reaching the semi-finals in 1986 (on that occasion they were beaten by the mesmeric brilliance that was Maradona) and nurtured great talents such as the dynamic midfielder Jan Ceulemans and the beautiful playmaker Enzo Scifo.

If those guys were the brightest stars of a golden generation, the current crop — on the brink of World Cup qualification — are looking to seriously outshine them. Golden? They look as if they were coached at Fort Knox.

Cast an eye over the current Belgium squad and you'll survey a group of players making a mark at Europe's top tables. Their wily veteran centre-half Daniel van Buyten has been a powerful part of Bayern Munich's Bundesliga domination. Toby Alderweireld was courted all summer by some of Europe's richest clubs before plumping for AtléticoMadrid. Dries Martens was one of the high end purchases Rafa Benítez made to usher in Napoli's post-Edinson Cavani era. Midfield wrecking ball Axel Witsel cost Zenit Saint Petersburg £32.5million.

Simon Mignolet is saving everything at Liverpool (whilst the 21-year-old Thibaut Courtois — and current national team no1 — begins his third season of a hugely successful AtléticoMadrid loan spell from Chelsea). Eden Hazard is revelling as José Mourinho's chief playmaker in a team full of them — not least compatriot Kevin de Bruyne. Christian Benteke wreaks havoc on the best defenders around most weeks. National team captain Vincent Kompany is a Manchester City folk hero and Jan Vertonghen has proved one of the division's most stylish defenders, leaving Thomas Vermaelen sweating on both his Arsenal and national team role. Vertonghen has childhood friend Mousa Dembélé further up the field at White Hart Lane, with the pair joined by international team-mate Nacer Chadli this summer. North at Goodison Park, goal bludgeoning battering ram Romelu Lukaku joins pacy wing threat Kevin Mirallas to keep Belgian numbers up after Marouane Fellaini's £27.5m Old Trafford exit.

Frank Raes is a leading sports presenter in Belgium and cites the remarkable change in fortunes back to harder times. “We were terrible in the European Championships in 2000 that we co-hosted,” he says. “Steps were taken, set-ups at clubs and within our football federation were modernised.

“The interest in football has gone mad,” says Raes. “We used to get 20,000 at the games but not anymore.” In fact a recent game in Brussels sold out within an hour. “There is a real fascination in this crop of players and our newspapers now have correspondents living in London and reporting on how they are all doing.”

One of those is Kristof Terreur, who every day (“I haven’t stopped for a month!”) is filing copy covering his countrymen’s fortunes in the English game. Terreur, however, is quick to point out that rather than some sort of master plan concocted by the Belgium FA, this wonderful crop stems from a bit of luck and the young players making the right move at the right time.

Chelsea's £32million Eden Hazard

“The Belgian FA are claiming all the credit," laughs Terreur. “The truth is this, though: whilst academies were encouraged to play the same system and concentrate on technique – a lot of the guys such as Thomas Vermaelen and Vertonghen made the move at 15 and got an education at foreign clubs like Ajax.

“55% of the Belgian league is overseas players and chances can be tough, just like in England. Players have a choice to make. Eden Hazed might of come to a big club earlier but he chose Lille in France knowing they have a great development programme. He was patient, got a great education and then he got his big move.”